Suspension

Suspension is a heterogeneous mixture that contains solid particles sufficiently large for sedimentation. The particles may be visible to the naked eye, usually must be larger than one micrometer, and will eventually settle, although the mixture is only classified as a suspension when and while the particles have not settled out.

Suspensions are classified on the basis of the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium, where the former is essentially solid while the latter can either be a liquid or a gas.

Characteristics

Suspensions are characterized by their appearance, which is typically cloudy or murky. This is due to the larger size of the dispersed phase particles, which are usually visible to the naked eye. The particles in a suspension will settle over time, if left undisturbed. This settling can be sped up by using a centrifuge.

Examples

Common examples of suspensions include sand in water, dust in air, and droplets of oil in air. Particles in suspension are typically larger than those in either a colloid or a solution. Suspensions are also found in nature, in the form of clouds, smoke, and dust storms.

Applications

Suspensions have a wide range of applications in various fields. In the pharmaceutical industry, they are used to deliver drugs to the body. In the food industry, they are found in products like salad dressings and ice cream. In the environmental sector, they are used in water treatment processes.

See also

• Colloid
• Solution
• Sedimentation
• Centrifuge

Suspension Resources
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